Meet the entrepreneurs.

Onigilly

Founded in 2008 by Aki and Koji Kanematsu, Onigilly is a healthy fast-casual eatery featuring onigiri, Japanese gourmet rice balls.

Onigiri is a handy food, so it's portable and easy to eat, especially when you are busy. Even samurai used to carry onigiri when they went to war. It's perfect!

Koji KanematsuCEO and Co-Founder

Why did you start Onigilly?

When I came here in 2006, I was surprised that there were a lot of sushi restaurants, but no onigiri, which is more common in Japan. I also noticed a lot of great fast food places, but most were not healthy. This is our mission: We want to spread healthy, affordable and delicious food.

“Before we started, people couldn’t get onigiri. Now, some come almost every day. People have the option to eat anything, but they choose Onigilly. When I see our guests eating Onigilly, that’s the most rewarding part for me.”